UK: More than 840 children recognized as victims of crimes against sexual integrity in 2022

March 6, MINSK. In 2022, more than 840 children were recognized as victims of crimes against sexual integrity or sexual freedom, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee Sergei Azemsha told reporters, BelTA has learned.

"For all categories of criminals, children become an easy target due to the age characteristics of their psyche: immaturity, subordination to the authority of an adult, gullibility, lack of life experience and awareness in matters of intimate relationships, inability to fully and critically assess the current situation and predict the possible actions of others. For each in a criminal case, investigators are working to establish the causes and conditions conducive to the commission of crimes.Thus, in 2022, 385 submissions were made to the subjects of prevention to eliminate violations of the law, the causes and conditions conducive to the commission of such crimes.In 2022, victims of crimes against sexual integrity or sexual freedom, more than 840 children have been recognized, of which almost half are children under the age of 14.The vast majority of the victims are girls - more than 80%," Sergei Azemsha said.

Compared to 2021, the number of juvenile victims increased by more than 20%, the Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee noted. "Most significantly - by more than 60% - the number of juvenile victims of crimes related to the commission of indecent acts has increased. Moreover, in relation to more than 80% of them, these crimes were committed using the Internet. A characteristic feature of these crimes is their high latency, and this allows criminals to commit such crimes for a long period," he stressed.

"If we talk about the main reasons that encourage people to commit crimes against children, then, in our opinion, the main role in the formation of a criminal desire is played by a complete cynical disregard for moral standards, deformed views on traditional values, neglect of the rights of the child and his availability as a victim, - Sergei Azemsha noted - According to the information obtained in the course of the psychological and psychiatric examinations of the accused over the past six years, only 88 persons out of more than 2,200 accused were diagnosed with a sexual preference disorder in the form of pedophilia.In other words, only 4% of criminals have mental disorder of a certain nature.At the same time, according to statistics,Almost every fifth defendant was under the influence of ALCOHOL at the time of the crime.

The Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee named the main conditions that contributed to the commission of such crimes. "This is a wide dissemination of information, primarily on the Internet, about various forms of intimate behavior. Lack of awareness of criminal liability for some forms of their activity in this area. Lack of an adequate level of explanatory work regarding sexual education of minors. Failure to ensure proper control by parents or persons who are responsible for the upbringing and pastime of children. The lack of organization of their leisure time, children's gullibility," he added.